From yesterday’s conference call where Nick Diaz accused Josh Koscheck and Georges St. Pierre of fighting lesser competition as Diaz himself prepares to defend his Strikeforce title against, uh, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos to Cesar Gracie telling Ariel Helwani that he doesn’t think Greg Jackson is actually that good of a coach, things are just getting bizarre with the Scrap Pack these days. Whatever planet these dudes are living on, it’s clear that they own the place, while the rest of us are just visiting.

Enter Gilbert Melendez, who tells RingsideReport.com this week that he’s the man to beat at 155-pounds right now. All this noise about Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard? Melendez ain’t trying to hear that, see. But just in case you’re wondering if Melendez might be interested in proving his point, of signing with the UFC so he can actually fight the other top contenders in his weight class: Forget it. It’s those guys who should be coming to him.

“To be honest, these guys need to come fight me,” Melendez says. “Who are they to say I should go there? I’ve been in the sport longer than any of these guys, than Frankie Edgar (or) Gray Maynard. I won in Japan against fifty thousand people booing me. I’ve traveled; these guys have never fought internationally. I’ve put myself in the shittiest positions ever. For me to say I should go there and fight them? I am done with that. Those guys need to come over here and fight me. They need to fight me, period. I am the guy to beat. They’re not the guys to beat. It just so happens they are under the UFC banner, so they get a little bit more love because of that.”

And so what’s the reason, you might ask, why Melendez’s name is mentioned a lot less frequently than guys like Edgar, Maynard, BJ Penn or even Eddie Alvarez as the world’s top lightweight? The reason nobody feels the need to call out Melendez? It’s obvious: They’re scared, homie.

“Sometimes I take it like a compliment,” he says. “Maybe the guys know they don’t match up too well … Honestly I don’t want to say it but I think some of these guys are scared. They don’t want it … they want the easier road.

“I think I already fought the best,” Melendez goes on. “And some of the best in the UFC, it’s not like those guys are anything special or more special than the guys I have already beat. It just happens they’re in the UFC, which is a popular organization.”

sigh....... what kinda meds does Ceasar and his fighters take? i think they need to change the dosage...

Gil is a very good fighter.... but has fought like once in the last year against Aoki (who i love dont get me wrong) who is kinda starting to look a bit suspect.... i mean he just got KO'd by a crossdresser!!! ( not that theres anything wrong with that... we all like to look pretty once in a while) Sorry Gil.... SF has no where near the talent as the UFC... you may be top dog, but its a big pretty empty yard.

Gilbert Melendez isint bad but... I think BJ Penn would mop the floor with him. Cesar Gracie's camp does have a habit in calling out all the UFC fighters in their divisions huh? Sorry but I think Jake Shields has the closest shot for anything and he is in the UFC now. Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez could stay a big fish in a small pond.

I feel sorry for Melendez, he just wants to fight the best and unfortunately, other than Alvarez, he doesn't have that many options outside of the UFC. He must see all the hype the UFC lightweights are getting, thinks he can beat most if not all of them and is getting a bit frustrated.

Gilbert Melendez is the #2 LW in the world.. possibley the #1 after Edger failed to avenge his loss to the number 3 or 4 in the world.

He has the right to make this claim.

No he isn't, not until he steps up into the UFC and proves it. It's all well and good beating the likes of Thomson, Ishida and Aoki, but until he steps up and beats the likes of Edgar, Maynard, Sotiropoulos, Miller, Penn, Florian, Pettis etc he isn't the number 2 in the world. He's top 10, but until he steps up and joins the elite 155lb division in the world I refuse to rank him Top 2. I rate Melendez very highly, he has a very impressive skill-set, the way he shut Aoki down was very good to watch, but he simply doesn't have the resumé to be ranked Top 3 yet for me.

Yes he is. Be careful not to overrate some fighters that you're laying claim to..

[quote=Danm2501;1346620 It's all well and good beating the likes of Thomson, Ishida and Aoki,[/quote]

Don't forget to throw Tatsuya Kawajiri and Clay Guida in there since you're playing the name game..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danm2501

but until he steps up and beats the likes of Edgar, Maynard, Sotiropoulos, Miller, Penn, Florian, Pettis

lol everytime a WEC guy wins a title he's all of a sudden a LW top 10er.... those LW title holders have never lasted. Who in gods name has Anthony Pettis beaten?? He needs to compete with Melendez not the other way around.

Funny thing about the rankings is Gray Maynard is ranked below Frankie Edgar isnt he?? Even though he's defeated Edgar... and fought to a draw with him..

So in 2 proffessional MMA fights Frankie Edgar has failed to defeat the undefeated Gray Maynard yet he's still #1.. War mma rankings!

[quote=Danm2501;1346620 etc he isn't the number 2 in the world.[/quote]

I beg to differ. He's been #2 for about 6 months now. No lower than 3 and that's a reach.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danm2501

He's top 10, but until he steps up and joins the elite 155lb division in the world I refuse to rank him Top 2.

lol @ until he joins the UFC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danm2501

I rate Melendez very highly, he has a very impressive skill-set, the way he shut Aoki down was very good to watch, but he simply doesn't have the resumé to be ranked Top 3 yet for me.

c'mon now JP..... i know you love SF and arent a big fan of the UFC, but you even have to see how wrong Gilbert is..... who has he fought? granted im no Frankie fan..... i thought Guida shoulda won thier fight....as did most people.... but Frankie beat BJ Penn twice...... Gil beat Aoki who got KO'd by a kickboxer DURING AN MMA ROUND, and after he made a complete fool of himself during the K-1 round..... Gil is a very good fighter... top 5 most likley..... but for him to say the UFC needs to come to him........ STOOPID!!! he neds to shut up and follow his friends lead and go to the UFC and fighter better competition......i like SF and i never miss one of their shows.... but the talent in SF is WAY below that of the UFC.....